Trinitarians please: I am confused by some explanations; please explain?

It is confusing because there are a lot of vocal people who either misrepresent the Trinity doctrine unintentionally due to not grasping it properly themselves, or who present a distortion of it because they believe the orthodox teaching to be wrong. The second explanation you mention is the ancient heresy of Modalism / Sabellianism, though it has modern variations. Essentially, though, modern takes on it are still from the same stable and fall into No. 2.

Modern-day Modalism took off in America in 1913 at a Pentecostal camp meeting near Los Angeles. Someone claimed to have had revelation as to the meaning of what being baptised in the name of Jesus meant, ending up in the doctrine that Jesus is the one God. (Sabellius, a Latin theologian of the 3rd century, said the Father is the one God.) But it's the same idea - that God has three modes of being. This "Jesus Only / Oneness" view that the Father and the Holy Spirit are only manifestations of Jesus runs into serious problems with the Bible, as I'm sure you will agree.

The first view you detail is the correct Trinity view but a problem is that 'personages' is not the best word to describe the way the One Being of God subsists in Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Greek scriptures were translated into Latin, and when the Latin church debated the nature of God with Greek Christians (in order to deal with the claims of people like Sabellius and Arius) there were language difficulties. Unfortunately, Latin words fell somewhat short of giving the full meanings intended. When we think of three persons, we cannot help but think of three individuals standing alone, and no matter how closely they may come together, they can never become one person. The Trinity does not support that idea but the Latin word which we take for 'person' is the closest we can get. The exact wording of the Trinity doctrine was designed to allow people like Sabellius and Arius no foothold to come in with their views. The fact that the debate existed from even before the 200s proves that the question of Jesus being God was already believed by Christians. But I know you don't want to go there.

Finally, there are too many simplistic illustrations used by unwary Christians, such as water having three states of being, or clover leaves, or 1 + 1 + 1 = 1 (mathematical rubbish; the nearest example would be 1 x 1 x 1 = 1). The foundational statement on the Trinity is that the One Being of God subsists in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The most critical point is that none of the three were ever created. The split second you think either the Son or/and the Holy Spirit were created by the Father, you have violated the Trinity doctrine. I'm not going to list scriptures because there are far, far too many involved and details about Greek words and grammar have to be gone into as well. I've answered myriad such questions in the past, so please feel free to look at my profile page for those.

In the unity of the Godhead there are three Persons, the

Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, these Three Persons

being truly distinct one from another. Thus, in the words

of the Athanasian Creed: 'the Father is God, the Son is

God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not

three Gods but one God.'

That's what the Catholic Encyclopedia says. It's quite remarkable how closed their reasoning is.

one and two are the same

one god three distinct beings

god the father a spirit

god the holy spirit or holy ghost

jesus the word who was made to be born in human flesh

KJV: John 1:1-3,14

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

[2] The same was in the beginning with God.

[3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

[14] And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

when god speaks he says us and our plural

KJV: Genesis 1:26.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

read the athanasian creed, the most orthodox creed detailing the Trinity:

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith, except a man keep whole and integral, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. Now the Catholic Faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity. Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one, the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal. For such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, the Holy Ghost uncreate; the Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible; the Father eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet, there are not three eternals, but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated, nor three incomprehensibles; but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet there are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet there are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise, the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Ghost is Lord. And yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord. For, as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord; so we are forbidden by the Catholic religion to say there be three Gods or three Lords. The Father is made by none, neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father, not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father, and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before or after the other. None is greater or less than another, but the whole three Persons are co-equal and co-eternal together. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped. He therefore that will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity. Furthermore it is necessary unto eternal salvation that he believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ is God and man. God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the world; and Man of the substance of His Mother, born into the world. Perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Godhead as touching His Manhood. Who, although He be God, and Man, yet He is not two, but one Christ. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ. Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven; He sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give account for their works. And they that have done good shall go into everlasting life, and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire. This, then, is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved.

------------

The /2 almost sounds like the heresy of modalism, but I'm not sure about that since your description was too vague. Modalism is like the water/ice/steam analogy. Which is a bad analogy because it's analogous to the heresy of modalism.

The first that you list is the Trinity. The second is actually part of the "oneness" rejection of the trinity. You second definition would be called modalism. Modalism has been rejected by the Christian Church since its earliest days.

Both explanations are wrong.

If you read the Greek Bible, you will come to know that we have misunderstood all the verses

that are used by us to conclude that One God exists in/ has three different forms.

If you sincerely seek an answer, please read my blog

http://refutetrinity.blogspot.com/

The pronoun used for Holy Spirit in Greek Bible is 'IT' - therefore Holy Spirit is impersonal

John 1:1 in Greek Bible reads as

In the Beginning was the Logos (Word), the Logos was with Ton Theon (The God), and the Logos was Theos (a god).

Although Jesus claimed to be complete (Alpha Omega) in Revelations similar to God's claim in Isaiah

Jesus never claimed two important titles of God

1) He never claimed the title Almighty

2) He never claimed the title 'Who is, Who was, and Who is to Come' - which means the One who exists in the present, past and future (In-finiteness).

We are created in the image of God more than flesh and blood but with an eternal spirit.

We should put our flesh in submission to the spirit and Christ submitted himself to the Father.

In Genesis God created man in his image.

Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Genesis 1 explains God said let US create man in OUR image.

Genesis 2 shows how man is created from the dust (flesh)

God breathed life into him (spirit)

and man became a living soul (soul)

God created man above the animals more than flesh which returns to dust but with an eternal spirit.

Yes the trinity is revelation from God which is revealed through the spirit.

God's truth is greater than flesh and blood but is eternal.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Now understand that God created man first flesh and second spirit.

God explains that the first will be last and the last will be first.

Made simple God explains that his truth is revealed through the spirit not through the flesh.

Those who receive revelation receive it through the spirit.

When we accept the atonement of Jesus Christ we receive the Holy Spirit and it is through the Holy Spirit spiritual truths are revealed.

1 Cor.15: 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

God warns Adam in the day he disobeys he will surely die.

Sin is separation from righteous God and it is God who created and sustains our life.

Separation from God is death.

This is the reason the Son became flesh to overcome temptation, sin and death as a man under law.

This is the Gospel that through his righteousness, atonement and resurrection we can now by faith be made new and joined to God which is eternal life.

This we have today by faith we are born again which is born of God and we receive the Holy Spirit which guides us in truth greater than flesh and blood.

God is an eternal spirit and his plan for us is also eternal.

His truth revealed through the spirit.

Man is not the finished product but is finished through Jesus Christ.

This we have today by faith but we will literally be made new at our resurrection.

Jesus was in the flesh as such was tempted and overcame temptation to overcome sin and death as a MAN under the law.

Jesus was totally dependent on the Father in heaven and it was through this he was able to overcome tempation, sin and death for mankind.

Edit.. Seems you are listening to people who hope to prove a point. JW's would be the only ones who have a problem with an adjective used to describe God.

God is definitely All Mighty. All Mighty God is also Mighty.. It would be hard to be ALL mighty and not also be Mighty.. it is a strange argument.. but if one is to be a JW they need something to force to make their religion work.

God is wonderful, mighty, all mighty all powerful. powerful awesome.. there are many adjectives and still only one God.

Jesus is the First Born of the New Creation.. The first born of the resurrection.. this does not make him creation. If you are a member of the cult of JW's... all you need to do is submit yourself to God.. not to doctrines of men.

Elohim was plagiarized from Sumerian myths, Elil (god of winds). When the patriach, Abraham, started from Ur in search of the land of Canaan, the tribe of Israelites adopted El, El-Shaddai as gods. After the covenant made, it was El (Genesis: they built El-Bethel [house of god]). By the 11th century BC, it evolved to Elohim (ruler of pantheon of gods).

By the 8th century BC, the Israelites worshipped Elohim, while the Judeans worshipped Yahweh. Later, king Ahaz (reigned from 731 to 715 BC) allied with the Assyrians to crush Israel, and his tribes reverted to worship idols. His son, Hezekiah succeeded him, restored back Yahweh and eliminated the anti-Yahwist priests in his kingdom. From 7th century BC, the Hebrew gods morphed from 2 (Elohim and Yahweh) into Yahweh.

*The Deuteronomists started writing about Yahweh, urging on one god (and warned that Yahweh is a jealous god).

Deut 6:4 Hear oh Israel: the Lord is God, the Lord is One (*Shema: "Hear oh Israel: the Lord is Adonai, Adonai is alone", Jews do not call their god [tetragrammatton YHWH] by name but replace it with Adonai).

The One or Alone or Unique (depends on translation) certainly leads to the conclusion of a One and only One god and not trinity.

EDIT: solomon (the wise solomon below) is correct, in John 1:1 . . . . the word WAS god. the key word in the verse, WAS, meaning Jesus is not the same as the God.